A New Bicycle

I just had to share a miracle that happened to me a few weeks ago. The owner of one of the private language schools that I work at here in Niigata called me to tell me that she had a free bike for me.

Now maybe some of you might be thinking that I should focus on getting a car and not a bike. Well, here in Japan, many people from children to company workers use bicycles to get around. (It sure saves on gas!)

Well, let's get back to my story. The owner of the school calls me and tells me that she has a free bike for me. The bike had been given to a former teacher at the school by a student two years ago. Well, the bike was stolen soon after that. The police found it a short time ago and they called the former student. Then she called the school about it. The former teacher had returned to his home country, so the owner decided to call me and ask me. I said that I would like it. The paperwork was arranged for the bike to be in my name and I got a used bike. I had to spend a little money to replace the light and the front brake pads. The bike turned out to be a great blessing. Now I do not have to walk everywhere.

Samurai Going Out Like a Cowboy!

I work at a variety of private language schools in addition to my full time job as an assistant language teacher with three high schools. One of the Japanese teachers from a private language school is a major history geek like myself. He told me the story of a samurai named Tsugunosuke Kawai from Nagaoka, in Niigata Prefecture. Tsugunosuke was a samurai general who fought against the forces fighting to restore the authority of the Emperor after two and fifty years of rule by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family.

He had purchased two Gatling guns from some foreign arms dealers. He used them in a battle near Nagaoka when the imperial forces fought to capture the city. He was shooting one of the Gatling guns as he was leading his forces. He was shot in the leg by an imperial sniper. He later died of his wounds. I would love to see a movie about this.

Sad State of Mind for a Teenager

Recently in one of my classes, we had students watch the first half of the movie "The Bucket List." We then asked them to compose a bucket list of their own. One boy wrote that he wanted to become a member of the Japanese parliament (the Diet) because he wanted to make money. Nothing like greed to motivate someone to dream of a career in "public" service.

Japanese Teenagers Say the Funniest Things

I just started working as an assistant language teacher in three local high schools at the end of August.

In one of the schools, I was helping to teach a lesson about gift giving. We asked the students to tell us different ideas of gifts that they did and did not want to be given to them if they were in the hospital. Here is a list of some of the things that a few of my students said they did not want:

Cruise missile
Reindeer
Lizard
Crayfish
Cockroach
Bomb
Dynamite
Cicada
Centipede
Influenza
Giraffe

Japanese Holidays

I thought that everyone might be interested in knowing what holidays we celebrate here in Japan.

January 1-New Year's Day

Coming of Age Day-Second Monday of January

This holiday is to celebrate when young Japanese men and women reach the age of adulthood (21).

National Foundation Day-February 11

This holiday is to celebrate the founding of Japan by the Emperor Jimnu in 660 BC.

Vernal Equinox-Around March 20

This holiday to celebrate life and nature.

Showa Day-April 29

This holiday is to reflect on the events of the Showa Era (1926-1989).

Constitutional Memorial Day-May 3

This holiday celebrates the beginnings of the modern Japanese constitution in 1947.

Greenery Day-May 4

This holiday is to celebrate nature.

Children's Day-May 5

This holiday is to celebrate children.

(Constitutional Memorial Day, Greenery Day, and Children's Day are collectively called "Golden Week" because companies give workers a whole week off around these holidays!)

Marine Day-Third Monday in July

This holiday is to celebrate the sea.

Respect-for-the-Aged Day-Third Monday in September

This holiday is for reminding people to treat their elders with respect.

Autumnal Equinox-Close to September 23

This holiday is for honoring one's ancestors.

Health and Sports Day-Second Monday in October

This day is encourage people to enjoy sports.

Culture Day-November 3

This holiday is to celebrate the announcement of the constitution on November 3, 1946 and promote culture.

Labor Thanksgiving Day-November 23

This is basically the Japanese version of Labor Day.

The Emperor's Birthday-December 23

This is to celebrate the birthday of the current emperor Akihito (December 23, 1933).